Measles warning for Christchurch

Community and
Public Health is investigating a second case of measles in
Christchurch.

An 11-year-old child is recovering at
home after contracting the virus in a general practice
waiting room.

Canterbury Medical Officer of Health,
Dr Alistair Humphrey, says the child contracted measles
after coming into contact with a 30-year-old man who
contracted the virus overseas. The man has now recovered
from the virus.

“These are the first cases of
measles in Canterbury since May 2017. Community and Public
Health staff are now working to contain any potential
spread.”

Investigations have shown the child
attended two days of school, a church service, ate in a
restaurant and played in a popular inner-city playground
before they were diagnosed. They also attended their medical
practice.

Dr Humphrey says the people that the child
came into contact with during those occasions are
potentially at risk of contracting measles.

“We
are working with the medical centre and school to ensure
people who were exposed to the virus in those locations are
contacted. We also need to warn those who were at the
church, restaurant and the playground that they have been
exposed.”

The child attended a service at Our Lady
of Victories Church at 6pm on 3 February 2018. They were at
Nando’s Restaurant in Sydenham between 5pm and 7pm on
Waitangi Day (6 February 2018) and the Margaret Mahy
Playground for a short period between 5pm and 10pm.

Dr Humphrey says there is absolutely no risk at all to
anyone who has been to the church for another service or
attended the restaurant or Margaret Mahy Playground outside
of those times.

“Anyone who was at that church
service or at the Margaret Mahy Playground or Nando’s in
Sydenham after 5pm on Waitangi Day is potentially at risk.
If you fall into that category and feel unwell, our advice
is for you to stay at home and call your GP for medical
advice. Staying at home is important as you may be
contagious.”

The early symptoms of measles include
fever, cough, runny nose, sore red eyes and white spots
inside the mouth. After three to five days a rash may
appear.

Dr Humphrey says the re-emergence of the
virus is a timely reminder to everyone in our community to
ensure that they are fully immunised.

“The
scheduled vaccinations are free from your general practice
and some pharmacies. Measles is a very serious illness and
we need to work together to ensure the South Island returns
to its measles-free status.”

MEASLES FAST
FACTS

• Measles is highly contagious - if
one person has it, 90% of the people close to that person
who are not immune will also become infected.•
It can take up to 3 weeks for symptoms to appear, you should
phone your family doctor/general practice team 24/7 for
#carearoundtheclock if you are concerned. If it’s
after-hours a nurse will answer the call and advise what to
do and where to go if you need to be seen.•
Measles cannot be treated once you get it so the only way to
protect yourself is to be fully vaccinated. People are only
considered immune if they have received two doses of MMR
vaccine and/or have had a measles illness previously and/or
were born before 1969.• Adults born before
1969 are considered immune to measles because the virus is
so infectious and a measles vaccine was not available in New
Zealand until 1969.• Further information on
measles can be found here.

Canterbury District Health Board (CDHB) is a Christchurch, New Zealand based hospital and healthcare provider for the
Canterbury region of New Zealand. Our region extends from Kekerengu in the North, to Rangitata in the South and Arthurs Pass in the West and comprises the six Territorial Local Authorities of Kaikoura, Hurunui, Waimakariri, Christchurch City, Selwyn and Ashburton.

We collaborate with other health and disability organisations, stakeholders and our community to decide what health and disability services are needed and how to best use the funding we receive from Government to improve, promote and protect the health, wellbeing and independence of our population.

At the Canterbury DHB, our vision is to improve the health and wellbeing of people living in Canterbury.

Contact Canterbury DHB

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